Everything You Need to Know about Getting a Pacemaker
Whether you have heart failure or cardiac arrest, the pacemaker procedure can be life-saving and help you live longer, healthier lives. Before opting to have a pacemaker, learn about its purpose, how to prepare for operation, potential risks and effects, and the nature of regular check-ups with your doctor. This guide is intended to provide you with all of that information so that you can go into surgery with confidence and knowledge of the pacemaker operation.
Pacemakers can be implanted if you have an irregular or slow heartbeat that doesn’t respond well to medication or if your heart stops beating altogether. A pacemaker may be necessary for someone who has diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol that has persisted for a long period of time. Certain genetic disorders may also necessitate one’s use. You and your doctor should decide when and what type of pacemaker is best for you.
Pacemakers are medical devices that are surgically implanted near the heart in the chest. They use electrical pulses to help regulate an irregular heartbeat and improve symptoms of an arrhythmia. Your doctor or medical practitioner can program the gadget to detect particular arrhythmias and then either transmit a signal or pace the heart with electricity to restore normal rhythm. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are the most frequent form of a pacemaker.
A pacemaker may be required when the heart’s regular rate and rhythm are disrupted. Ischemic heart disease, in which blood flow is restricted to the heart, cardiomyopathy, and other disorders can all contribute to these disturbances. When the heart beats too slowly (bradycardia), it can cause fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, and weariness, all of which may require the implantation of a pacemaker. A pacemaker can also help reduce episodes of abnormal rhythms called arrhythmias. If medication for an irregular heartbeat is ineffective, a permanent pacing device may be implanted. When deciding whether or not to perform pacemaker insertion surgery, doctors will consider all relevant risk factors in the patient’s medical history.
Implantation of the device takes place in the subclavian region, close to the breastbone. This can be done in an open-chest surgical procedure or through a small cut in the skin. During the surgery, doctors create a pocket for the device and attach wires that connect it to your heart. Doctors may use general anaesthesia so you will not feel any pain during this surgery and are fully awake when they finish. Most patients are able to go home the day following surgery and resume their normal routine within two weeks of having a pacemaker put. Patients must continue annual exams as part of their aftercare beyond the initial six-month post-implant period.
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